Tire-setting machine.



H. T. HENDERSON.

TlRE SETTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 25, 1914.

1 166 369, Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

g 2 SHEETSSHEEI I.

H. T. HENDERSON.

TIRE SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 25, 1914.

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'IIRE SET TING MACHINE.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Dec. 28, M315.

Application filed November 25, 1914. Serial. No, 873,907.

To all whom it may concern .1

Be it known that I, HENRY T. HENDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Setting Machines, of which the following is. a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in tire setting machines, and is designed particularly for the purpose of improving machines of the edge grip type.

The primary object of the invention is to simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character by reducing the number of elements and the number of movements involved in the construction and operation as will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists essentially in certain combinations and arrangements of parts by which the machines of this class are rendered more facile, etlicient and economi cal in operation.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention con structed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tire setting machine constructed according to and embodying the novel features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine with the pump and oil tank omitted. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 33 Fig. 3, showing the gripping heads, the supporting rod, and the plunger and cylinder for moving the movable gripping head.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings I employ a stationary head 1 and the movable head 2, the former being supported upon legs as 3, and both elevated from the ground a suitable distance. provided with longitudinal openings or bores a and 5 respectively which extend therethrough to accommodate the central rod 6 which is passed through both heads and upon which the movable head 2 is adapted to slide, toward and away from the stationary head. A nut 7 holds the stationary gripping head and rod rigid at one end of the machine, and at the other end, a nut 8 serves to clamp the head-of a cylinder 9 in position on the rod, said cylinder having a central bore 10 for the rod.

These two heads are Within the cylinder and slidable upon the rod 6, a. plunger 11 is located. This plunger also. has a central bore 12 and the plunger is free to slide upon the rod as a. guide and support. A packing gland or gasket. 13 is secured at the inner end of the plunger to make an oil or Water tight joint in the cylinder, and it will be understood that the plunger is designed to move the movable gripping head. I preferably employ motive fluid pressure to move the plunger and head, such as oil, and for this purpose, an oil pump 14 is designed to draw oil from the tank 15 and force the oil into the cylinder through the pipe 16 which pipe has a check valve 17 and a cut off cock 18 therein.

While I refer herein to the motive fluid pressure as. oil, it will of course be understood that other hydraulic pressure may be utilized, and any other type of pump may be used, as I do not limit myself to hand pumps only.

When open and in normal position the two gripping heads are spaced apart, but at their adjoining centers just above the rod 6 each head is provided with meshing teeth or lugs 19 and 20 and alternating recesses 21 and 22. Thus, even when the heads are separated these lugs and recesses or teeth are in engagement to prevent the heads getting out of register, and these teeth act as guides to prevent the tire bending down between the heads when the head 2 is moving and to center its movement.

The heads are normally held apart by means of a pair of springs 23, 23.. one at each side of the center and each coiled about a bar or rod 241 which connects the heads and has its ends loose therein. Thus the hydraulic pressure is exerted against the tension of the springs, and the springs are suliiciently strong to return the movable head and plunger to normal position after the hydraulic pressure is released. v

Each gripping head is provided with a pair of integral side iaws as 25, 25, and 26, 26 and each jaw has an oblique or inclined wedge face 27. In the drawings I have illustrated four liners 28 (but these are frequently omitted) laid a ainst these surfaces and the four gripping blocks 29, 29, and 30, 30, are arranged next the liners. It will be understood that these liners may be omitted and the wedge shaped gripping blocks may be used next the jaws of the heads when it is not necessary to use the liners. These grip ping blocks are widest at their inner ends so that they will engage small tires and are easily adjusted thereto.

The inner edges of the wedgegripping blocks are preferably corrugated or toothed as at 31 and the blocks. are spaced apart each side the center of the heads in position to grip the tire of a Wheel as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 wherethe device is ready to be operated to move the head and grip the tire.

The pair of gripping blocks are adapted to be moved apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, in order to impart lateral movement to them so that they will be forced toward each other 2'. 6. so that blocks 29 may clamp the tire between them and blocks 30 also clamp the tire therebetween. This movement is accomplished by means of a chain 32 which is suspended from two levers 33, 34, the former on the stationary head and the latter 011 the movable head. Each lever is attached to a metallic plate as 35 which extends transversely of the machine and is loosely attached to the outer end of each head by a pair of pins 36 which are passed through openings in the plates, and these pins serve as pivots upon which the levers and plates may swing, the lever 33 to the left and the lever 34. to the right in Fig. 1, with the recess 35 as the fulcrum. It is this swinging movement of the levers and their plates that clamps the gripping blocks, and in Fig. at it will be seen that the blocks have each a hook 37 which overhangs the plates 35 and insures a loose but secure connection between the blocks and plates. The liners 28 have also each of them a hook 38 for this purpose, which overhangs its respective end plate 35.

WVhen at rest the plates with their levers lie against the ends of the heads as shown in Fig. 4:, but by foot pressure upon the chain 32 the plates areeasily swung upon their pivots and the corrugated edges of the gripping blocks are made to clamp the sides of the tire.

When the hand pump is actuated it will be understood that the plunger forces the movable block toward the immovable one. The oil is taken from the tank 15 and forced through the check valve 17 and regulating valve 18 and by way of pipe 16 to the cylinder, the check valve preventing return of oil. Then sufficient 7 pressure has been reached it can be released by turning the stem of the valve 18 and the oil returns to the tank tlir'oiighv'aste pipe 40. Only a small quantity of oil is required and it can be utilized over again as many times as desired.

The heads or head blocks 1 and 2 are particularly well adapted for shortening the tire around the wheel, and the tire is drawn tightly around the wheel and shortened from to inch at each gripping by a few strokes of the hydraulic hand pump. When the chain 32 is depressed by power thereon the levers and plates are thrown out as described and the gripping blocks are made to slide against the inclined edges of the jaws, thus bringing all four blocks in perfect alinement at one movement against the tire.

I claim 1. In a tire setter, the combination with a single central rod and a stationary head, of a slidable head on the rod, a plunger on the rod bearing against the slidable head, a cylinder inclosing the plunger and motive fluid pressure therein to move said plunger and springs designed to hold the slidable head in normal position and simultaneously movable gripping blocks.

2. The combination with a pair of heads in a tire setter having jaws with inclined edges, of gripping blocks arranged in pairs. pivoted plates, said blocks being recessed to receive said plates, levers carried by said plates, and an actuating chain attached to said levers.

3. In a tire setter the combination with a motive fluid cylinder and a single central rod therein having a stationary head at one end, of a movable head slidable on the rod and a plunger in the cylinder slidable on the rod adapted to engage said head, means for separating the heads, simultaneously movable gripping blocks, means for actuating the same and means for preventing rotation of the movable head.

4. In a tire setting machine the combination with a single central rod and a stationary head and slidable head on the rod each having jaws with inclined edges, gripping blocks arranged in pairs, a pivoted, transversely arranged plate at the outer end of each head, hooks on the blocks engaging said plates, an actuating lever attached to each plate and a chain connecting said levers.

In testimony whereof I ai'iix my sign ature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY T. HENDERSON. Witnesses JOHN P. HonNIsI-I, J. E. MITCHELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C, 

